Supporting Virginia's effort to reduce single-use plastics
Dear William & Mary Faculty & Staff,
Over the last several years, William & Mary has made substantial progress in its commitment to sustainability. These efforts will be supplemented by Governor Northam’s recent executive order, which reduces plastic pollution and solid waste at state agencies and institutions of higher education.
Specifically, Executive Order 77 requires all state agencies and institutions of higher education by July 21 to discontinue buying, selling or distributing certain plastics, including disposable plastic bags, single-use plastic and polystyrene food service containers, plastic straws and cutlery and single-use plastic water bottles.
Additionally, the executive order requires state agencies and institutions of higher education to develop and submit a plan by September 20 to phase out the use of all non-medical, single-use plastic and expanded polystyrene objects by the end of 2025. Much of the work to implement this policy at W&M has already begun.
W&M anticipates guidance later this month from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that we hope will answer important campus implementation questions, such as how the executive order will impact departments, units, vendors and concessioners. In the meantime, a more detailed message will be shared with those on campus directly involved in the purchase and contract management of such items. We will provide additional information as it becomes available and ask you to submit any questions to the implementation team by completing this online form.
Sincerely,
Amy SebringChief Operating Officer
